Now that I have downloaded PSP firmware version 2.8, and successfully updated my PSP (now showing the correct version when prompted), and having spent some considerable time finding a wireless hotspot, and getting access to it I have enabled the WMA playback option. However, any WMA files I download now seem to be protected by someting called DRM – a Windows security system.
I completely understand your problem and don’t have good news about the solution. Worse, it’s a problem that’s by no means limited to the Sony PSP, but actually affects all Mp3 and music players, whether they’re Apple iPods, RCA Lyra devices, Creative Zen Micros or even cellphones. In a nutshell, digital versions of songs are too darn easily copied and the fear of completely killing the music industry has caused vendors to create protection systems that are a nightmare for even the most legitimate user.
What you’re talking about is Digital Rights Management, and it’s actually a variety of different systems that try to ensure that when you buy music from a particular digital outlet, you can only play it on devices that follow the rules of that particular DRM scheme.
For example, I commonly hear from people who buy songs off the Apple iTunes Music Store then find out that they can’t listen to them on their RCA Lyra Mp3 player because the iTMS digital rights management system requires that you listen to the song either within the iTunes program itself or on an iTunes-controlled device like an iPod or Motorola SLVR cell phone. Needless to say, these people can be darn frustrated, especially when they realize there’s no recourse, they don’t now own analog versions and they can’t get their money back.
This is by no way limited to iTunes, however. Check out Rhapsody, the Walmart Music Store, Musicmatch, Yahoo Music or even Audible and you’ll find that every digital music purchase you make has lots and lots of annoying limitations on use. Indeed, while Microsoft has promoted its PlaysForSure program as a consumer benefit, it’s really all about DRM too: a “PlaysForSure” device works with the Microsoft music DRM scheme. No more, no less. (and yes, you better believe that the upcoming Microsoft Zune will be a PlaysForSure device too)
There are some hackers who have figured out how to circumvent the common DRM schemes, but this is arguably illegal (though I think that if I buy the song, I should be able to push it onto any player device I’d like) and also just another of the security versus hackers arms race that we see in so many arenas. As fast as these things are figured out, the companies then promptly make a few tweaks and changes to make the hacks fail.
This is one reason that Sony keeps releasing apparently pointless PSP firmware updates, by the way. The smart folk who poke around with homebrew hacks to the PSP system are constantly being stymied by the Sony engineers. I find it baffling and stupid, actually, and wish Sony would just let us have community-written games in addition to the top-notch professional titles out there. But I’m just one voice…
Anyway, the long and short of it is that if you have music files that are DRM protected, then you’re out of luck getting them onto your PSP without lots of hassles and effort. You can try, for example, burning a physical “audio format” music CD of the songs, then re-rip the music hoping that it will scrub the DRM limitations off (that often works with iTunes music, for example) but it’s a major hassle, costs you physical media and lots of time.
Kinda makes those traditional physical audio CDs you buy at Tower Records or from Amazon.com seem like a pretty good value after all, doesn’t it?
Note: This Q&A was written by Drew “flyboy” Crouch of the AskDaveTaylor editorial team.
I’m trying to find a good drm removing program right know, and I consider several variants to choose from. Hope I’ll find smth worthwhile with the help of your website:)
You may find a converter to help you remove DRM, I have used Daniusoft Digital Music Converter could help me convert protected music on PSP.
http://www.wmatomp3-converter.com/digital-music-converter.html
You can burn the files to an ISO image rather than physical media to avoid the costs of the media and then rip the image. You do have the hastle of entering the file information again though.
Try to convert your DRM protected music files with Soundtaxi. It’s simple in use
Has handy and clear interface.
If you interested in it,read more on official site http://www.Soundtaxi.info , or http://www.nomoredrm.com
Best regards
Dave, you said “(and yes, you better believe that the upcoming Microsoft Zune will be a PlaysForSure device too).”
You would think so, huh? Turns out the Zune device will not play PlayForSure files!
dear dave i just wanted to comment on the things u said and not to be mean but correct you on the music download suggestion the downloader services u sugested are all wrong and ALL have drms i looked here first to see if i could play the songs i downloaded from thoose music stores on my psp but i see u r unsecusful also i just wanted to let everyone know that so they are not dissapointed when they down load from thoose services and can’t play there songs on there psp
also dave i second your comment on why do they restrict the songs because i have spent 100’s of dollars on songs to find out i cannot play them on my psp and i am really really mad eventho i can play them on my mp3 player i still use my psp for everything !!! and i got mad when i could not put them on
regards
kevin
I agree, I think the more the companys try to restrict thier content, the more the hackers try to thwart them, just give them something to do. Also i think it makes otherwise moral people to get frustrated at the restrictions and cause them to get their content illegaly. Restrictions usually backfire eventually in one way or another.
There *are* ways to play back DRM protected files on non-approved DAP’s and other music applications but yes, it is largely difficult to get music from legal sources these days onto an iPod if you don’t purchase it through iTMS. zune will have the same problem too.
The traditional way, and by far the easiest is to just record the playback of your DRM’d files into a new file. This seems to be the (economically safest) way that people get around US laws (DMCA) that prevent the breaking of DRM.
the quickest way to get around DRM, is to break the DRM’s chain of protection, but moreover, its illegal. and some would say immoral. the morality depends on if you read and understood the license agreement when you signed up or if you just clicked Yes when installing. but thats another assumption, that nobody reads the EULA’s.
The issue is that DRM restricts, not enables. the content owner, license holder or the distributor that signs/locks the files can restrict anything it chooses to restrict at any time.
the foolish thing is the trend of music distribution companies distrusting their audiences and selling corrupted cd’s, that disallow copying. these days, you can’t even be sure that a CD you buy can be played in your PC.
if the unwrapping and unlocking of DRM files was simpler, nobody would even balk at suggesting it, even with the harbinger of the DMCA and the politically sensitive sword dangling overhead. in some cases, getting the files from disavowed sources can be quicker, easier, and more convenient than buying the album in a store, or buying the album in DRM format from an online store.